think we’ll be seeing him for a few days.”
AJ nodded to the herd. “You want me to get them for you?”
Kate snorted. “You think you could do any better?” She held up a rope and closed the distance between them. Ducking between the poles, she joined him on the outside of the corral and shoved the rope at his chest. “I bet you can’t get them all before lunch time.”
He cocked an eyebrow at her as he grabbed the rope. “You want to make a wager?”
She let out a laugh. “Sure. If you can’t get all the calves wrangled and moved into the smaller pen, then you owe me fifty bucks.”
AJ tilted his head. “Okay, and if I do?”
Kate lifted a shoulder. “You won’t. Those cows are fast and they only like Tate, apparently.”
“But if I do, then do I get to pick my prize?”
She rolled her eyes. “You get them before lunch and I’ll give you fifty bucks. That’s two hours.”
The straw bobbed to the side. “And if I get them all in the pen in less time?”
“Like what? An hour and a half?”
He shrugged. “Or less.”
“Like I said, it isn’t going to happen.”
He leaned in close. “So you wouldn’t mind if I raise the stakes.”
Kate rolled her eyes. “Fine. I’ll give you fifty bucks for every twenty minutes you shave off your time.” At least it would keep him busy. “I have other stuff to do.” Kate turned to walk away but his hand wrapped around her arm. Sparks trailed up her arm and she froze.
“You’re not leaving just yet. It’s only going to take ten minutes.”
She blew out a breath and shook her head. “AJ, I’m heading inside. When you’re done, come find me and I’ll cut your hair.” She pulled her arm away from him and headed for the main house. There was a good pair of scissors in the office she could use. And while she was there, she could get to work on the challenge. She knew exactly what this ranch needed.
She dug though the drawers and got the scissors, then grabbed a few files to help her case. Just as she settled into her seat, AJ wandered in and leaned against the door jamb. “Pay up, Katie.”
Kate jumped. “What? No, you didn’t!” She glanced at her watch. “Nine minutes?” Her eyes widened as they shot to his face. He was flushed, the straw in his mouth gone, and he was still breathing heavily. Her eyes narrowed and her lips pressed into a thin line. “I don’t know how you did it, but you cheated.”
“Cheated?” He laughed as he took off his hat and tossed it onto a chair. “How would you suppose I cheated?”
“I don’t know, but there’s no way that herd would allow you to get within twelve feet of them.”
He ran a hand through his hair and moved closer to the desk. Sinking into the chair in front of it, he leaned back with a grin on his face. “You don’t know what I did for the rodeo, do you?”
She froze. Shoot. He was right. She’d completely forgotten he was a rodeo cowboy. Slowly, her eyes rose to meet his.
“I’m one of the best headers in the team roping competition.”
Kate’s brows pinched together.
“I lasso the cows and my guy wraps their legs.” He looked up at the ceiling. “I believe our best time was about four-point-seven seconds.”
Her mouth dropped open. “You manipulated me.”
He held out his hand. “Time to pay up.”
Kate shook her head and folded her arms. “Cheaters get disqualified.”
AJ sat up straighter. “You ought to be careful who you call a cheater. Them’s fighting words.”
Her heart flipped in her chest, the serious, steady tone of his voice wreaking all kinds of havoc. “I’m not paying you six hundred dollars, AJ. You better come up with something else.”
A slow grin crossed his face. “I’m sure I could come up with something.” AJ nodded to the scissors on the table. “You ‘bout ready?”
Kate heaved a sigh and plucked the scissors from their resting place. “Yeah. Let’s get this over with.”
He lifted his hands. “I really don’t mind going to town.”
“No, it’s fine.” She brushed past him, the skin on her arm touching his. A second round of goosebumps made their way up her arm, prickling the hairs at the back of her neck. The crush she’d had when she was younger had come back, despite her irritation with his smug attitude. Why couldn’t her heart learn its lesson? He was never